Stakeholders want uniform alcohol policy pan India

India requires a uniform policy for the alcohol industry, which currently has different sets of rules for each state, Ssura Spirits chairman Ramprakash Patwardhan said.TNN | December 27, 2016, 12:58 IST

It's a rare instance of an Indian company knocking on the doors of foreign diplomatic missions to settle a brand dispute.PANAJI: India requires a uniform policy for the alcohol industry, which currently has different sets of rules for each state, Ssura Spirits chairman Ramprakash Patwardhan said.

Speaking to TOI, other industry stakeholders agreed that while Goa did offer a simpler process, the industry finds it difficult to adapt to the rigid stipulations put in place by each state.

Referring to the recent Supreme Court decision to ban the sale of alcohol along state and national highways, stakeholders said that it would affect alcohol retailers, especially those who have stores attached to their homes.

“Border rules are different, if rules change then nobody updates them and it is not available online. There should be some common rules otherwise it is very difficult to handle business,” Kerkar said.

Patwardhan, who is based in Bengaluru, stated that in terms of the ease-of-doing-business index for the alcohol industry, Goa was the easiest, which was one reason why companies prefer to launch their product in Goa.

“Goa is the easiest, less complicated and very friendly,” Patwardhan said, suggesting that, “there should be a uniform policy, pan India. Policies should not be as complicated as they are today.”

The Supreme Court’s order to ban the sale of alcohol along national and state highways will lead to the shutdown of over 50% of Goa’s taverns and liquor retails stores, which are situated along the highways.